Fatal Attraction

In 2015 the sales of Organic produce topped 8% of the total fresh produce sold, according to Nielson Perishable Group. That statistic is very meaningful as we observe mass retailers like Costco not able to source enough certified organic produce.

Costco’s sales or organic produce last year surpassed $4 billion. In an effort to assure the supply to their warehouses, Costco is lending money to farmers to help them purchase land and equipment to grow more organic produce.

Merriam-Webster tells us that ORGANIC means of, relating to, yielding, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides. So then, any naturally occurring compound is acceptable.

Consider this: The kernel of an apricot (seed) has a substance in it called amygdalin. That compound is similar to cyanide in the human body. The New York State Department of Agriculture found that a mere 4 ounces of apricot kernels contained the minimum lethal dosage of cyanide for an adult human. Totally organic and totally lethal.

The bottom line is just because the label says ‘organic’ doesn’t mean that the product is unequivocally good for you. You must always exercise your best judgment in deciding what you will consume.